The Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) celebrated its 15th anniversary, on the weekend of October 5-7 2012, on the land of the Arrernte people in Alice Springs. The Alliance brings together Aboriginal people, environment, health groups and trade union representatives to discuss the impacts of the nuclear industry on land and communities.

ANFA reaffirmed its opposition to uranium mining, exploration and dumping of radioactive waste on Aboriginal land.

Key issues and resolutions from the meeting are:

• The Alliance met at a pivotal time as Prime Minister Gillard heads overseas to progress a uranium sales deal with India, a nuclear weapons state that refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

• The news that Australian uranium was present at the nuclear disaster at Fukushima had profound impacts on ANFA representatives, especially those whose country the uranium came from.

• The meeting noted that numerous uranium mining proposals have been stalled in recent years including the Olympic Dam expansion (SA), Mt Gee / Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary (SA), Myponga (SA), Koongarra (NT), proposed heap leach mining at Ranger (NT), Kintyre and Yeelirrie (WA).

• ANFA called for Australia’s existing radioactive waste to remain at designated federal storage sites at Woomera (SA) and Lucas Heights (NSW) pending an independent public commission of radioactive waste management in Australia.”
• ANFA also called for justice and acknowledgement for communities and people suffering the intergenerational health impacts from British atomic weapons testing at Maralinga and Emu Field.

The full 2012 ANFA meeting statement is at www.anfa.org.au.